Banbury to Cropredy, NOW with Photos - by boat this time

3.99 miles, 2hr 37m, Locks 3, Bridges 1, 2.66 lock/mph
Mooring in Banbury has been good.
Epiphany moored in Banbury

Yesterday John went off for a tour of Hook Norton Brewery with Graeme from Nb Faith and Louise and I went girly shopping! It has been a long time since I did that. Banbury has all the usual suspects for shops - i.e. the chains, but it also has some litle independent traders too. Castle Quay is the Mall by the canal and useful on a wet day!

In the afternoon John and I wandered to Tooleys for the odd few things and then  we walked along the tow path to Morrisons for a big shop! The larder is well stocked now, at least for a few days.

Yesterday evening we were both very tired after all our exertions! Despite being in the middle of Banbury we had a quiet night.

This morning after cleaning the brass on the chimney and putting a coat of incralac on we wandered into Banbury market to have a look. We then bought some Cornish pasties from Morris' - another genuine Cornish pasty maker. Banbury also has the West Cornwall pasty shop! Spoilt for choice.

It was time to move - we said goodbye to Banbury in the sunshine and breeze. Sovereign Narrowboats had diesel at 70 pence - that is not a typo - yes 70, pence/litre. So of course we had to fill up! He had a special offer for the weekend of the Banbury Canal Day! I suspect he will get a lot of customers and anyway he is a really nice guy to chat to!

After the moorings at Spiceball Country Park, Grimsbury Wharf leads off the main channel.


Around here is the best place to moor for access to Tesco - if you can find one and don't mind concrete for a bank!

It was strange passing boats on the canal that for the last few years we have passed on the road!


The first of three locks (Hardwick 28) before Cropredy is in between the railway bridge and the M40 bridge. It feels quite isolated never the less. Now we really leave the Banbury environs.

After this the motorway moves away, as does the noise a little! The railway continues close by though for quite a while longer.

Bourton Lock (27) and its cottage looks and feels neglected


The irony being the new set of bollards (see one in above photo) in contrast to the general delapidation and overgrown lock garden. It needs someone to love it back to it's former glory. I hope the new owner will do so.

Another photo for a "certain someone" who dreamed of owning the cottage!

From Slat Mill lock (26) we could just see the roof tops of Great Bourton as the railway veers away a little and we passed a few moored boats in this exposed but rural section.

Soon we saw the familiar sights of Cropredy, moored boats on long term moorings and the 14 days. We were lucky as we knew of a mooring that we could use near a friend's boat!

So we are now moored and spent a lovely couple of hours with Graham and Jane from nb Alnwick and were also honoured by a visit from their cat GC! He had a peep in first!


We finally have the squirrel alight and it it so cosy. Somehow this feels like the "heart" of the boat even though it pressages the coming of winter!

Once again I am having problems with uploading pictures so will try again tomorrow! Success it worked today


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